Stas let out a breath of relief and chuckled, "It's been quite a while since I visited your place. Need me to give you a ride back this time?"

Tang Wen didn't answer, merely stating, "Take a look at where I am right now."

Stas raised an eyebrow in surprise, glancing at the layout and scenery surrounding Tang Wen, and instantly understood.

Ever since Tang Wen left the Tang Clan, wherever he went, a Tang Clan clubhouse would open. Since Tang Wen resided on Planet Karcher, the Tang Clan established the world's largest and most opulent private clubhouse there.

However, Tang Wen had always consciously avoided involvement in anything they did.

Yet, Tang Wen was currently inside that very clubhouse.

This signaled that he had made up his mind entirely.

The people coming to collect him would likely arrive within a few hours.

Stas sighed, "I can only wish you a smooth journey then."

Tang Wen looked at Stas’s expression, a sorrowful look of 'my child has finally grown up,' and felt a stir in his heart. "I will come out again, after I’ve taken down Bai Lanxue."

Stas spread his hands and laughed, "I shall eagerly await that day."

Tang Wen stood up. "I'm going to practice the piano now." With that, he closed the light screen.

Ziye slept for five or six hours. She felt as if she could hear the faint, intermittent strains of a piano weaving around her ears. When she tried to listen closely, the sound was indistinct, but when she let her attention drift, it seemed ethereal.

She woke from her slumber to find the sky outside completely dark; she had no idea of the time. She climbed out of bed, pushed open the door, and saw that everything outside was illuminated by lights.

But there was no sign of the piano from her dream.

Most of the clubhouse lights were installed at ground level, casting warm beams upward amidst the small hills and hot springs, creating pathways of light. Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, the luxurious clubhouse seemed to have transported itself to some enchanting fairyland.

Ziye leaned against the doorframe, lost in thought for a long time. Suddenly, she remembered she had been soaking in a hot spring—how did she end up in **?

She glanced down at her bathrobe, perfectly fastened, and wondered what on earth was wrong.

"Doudou, Doudou?" Ziye called out, rushing back to her room. She couldn't find it anywhere. She flipped the covers, and there it was, sleeping soundly next to her pillow.

As for Doudouzai, who resembled a little pig, it had somehow rolled off the bed and was also fast asleep, still clutching its pure silver alloy chew toy with both tiny paws.

Ziye poked the little sprout-like creature. "Wake up quickly. Let's go eat. Teacher has probably finished already."

The little sprout shot up from ** with a whoosh, reforming into its round shape, flapping its wings and squawking, "Eat, eat."

Ziye bent down to pick up Doudouzai, and suddenly spotted a paper memo lying on the nightstand, made of beautiful paper. She leaned closer to read it and froze, losing her grip on Doudouzai, which tumbled back onto the floor.

Doudouzai huffed and puffed as it scrambled back up, crawling toward her feet.

Ziye paid it no mind.

In that instant, it felt as if everything around her ceased to exist; there was only the short sentence on the memo: "I left."

There was no signature on the note, but Ziye knew it was Tang Wen's. Tang Wen was handsome, but his handwriting was far from beautiful—it was hasty and scrawled, much like a rough sketch in an artist's draft.

He left?

What did that mean?

Ziye snatched the memo and dashed out the door, through the courtyard, and looked out across the expanse, but saw no staff. She ran to Tang Wen's courtyard; the door was shut tight, and pressing the doorbell yielded no response.

She gritted her teeth, rushed back to her room, quickly threw on some clothes, and ran to the front desk.

Along the way, the little sprout flew beside her, fly, fly, fly, but it was unusually quiet, saying nothing.

Ziye arrived at the front desk, breathless. "Hello, could you please check if the two guests who arrived with me have checked out?"

The attendant smiled with perfect calibration and a pleasant demeanor. "Yes, both guests checked out two hours ago. They simultaneously prepaid your room charges and instructed that you are to be transported to Space Station Lingshi ③ tomorrow morning at 9:00."

Ziye felt a sharp jolt. What was Tang Wen playing at?

She opened her Ultra-Comm screen and dialed Tang Wen's Ultra-Comm.

One ring, two rings, three rings—no answer.

Not giving up, she dialed Brann’s Ultra-Comm—the same result, no answer.

She exclaimed anxiously, "How could this be?"

The attendant smiled sweetly. "Both guests mentioned they are eagerly anticipating meeting you again next time."

Ziye deflated. "Uh, thank you."

Saying that, she turned, caught the little sprout hovering above her head, held it to her chest, and slowly walked back to her room.

When Tang Wen told her he was leaving Kaga, she thought he was joking. She never expected him to leave so abruptly, without giving her even a moment to react.

Ziye tilted her head back to gaze at the endless dark night, finally realizing: she had been abandoned again.

Starting today, she was missing a friend, a companion, and a mentor. Furthermore, he had promised her he could help her recruit many underlings once her current competition round finished; they were just about to go recruit them, and he had run off—that was too much!

Breach of trust!

Bad person!

Great Demon Tang!

Ziye clenched her fists fiercely. If she ever saw him again, she would definitely punch his handsome nose crooked, and she wouldn't offer any explanation!

But after a moment's thought, she just felt wronged.

Ziye threw herself onto ** and rolled around holding the duvet, sighing mournfully, "Doudou, why do you think he abandoned me?"

The little sprout tilted its head and thought for a moment. "Because you're too dumb?"

Ziye: ...

She buried her head in the covers, resolutely refusing to speak.

Tears began to well up unexpectedly. "If he thinks I'm slow, he could have told me! I could have changed. Why run off without saying a word?"

Waaah...

The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. She rolled back and forth on ** until she had thoroughly messed up the entire bed. Still not mollified, she jumped up twice more, determined not to stop until the bed was thoroughly bounced into disarray.

The little sprout hung on the door frame and suddenly chirped, "But, little idiot, you still have this great lord here."

Ziye turned her head and saw the little sprout looking at her with its eyes wide, appearing rather unhappy. Suddenly, she felt a sense of release.

Tang Wen’s leaving her was just like how she felt about Doudou.

The reason she felt wronged and depressed wasn't just because she would miss him; it was more importantly because of dependence. If there was anything else, it was the loss of trust.

She depended on Tang Wen.

The reason she was so heartbroken was that she had lost someone she relied on, just like when she lost An Junlie before.

As for trust, it was that she had treated Tang Wen sincerely, yet he hadn't even offered a goodbye, giving her the distinct feeling that he simply didn't care about her, which is why he left without saying anything.

—In comparison, An Junlie was clearly the best after all.

She ran to the door, took down the little sprout, puffed out her cheeks, and declared, "Hmph, we are never speaking to that Great Scoundrel Tang again! Tomorrow, we’ll go see An Junlie, okay?"

-RS

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